Woman arrested for trying to sell five-year-old girl for Rs20,000 in Thane

Mumbai city news: The girl was rescued and sent to observation home.

The woman, Shobha Bansi Gaikwad, allegedly forged documents to show that she had adopted the girl from a friend in Gujarat three months ago.

The anti-human trafficking cell of the Thane police on Friday arrested a 50-year-old woman for allegedly trying to sell a five-year-old girl for Rs20,000 at Bhiwandi. The girl has been sent to observation home.

The woman, Shobha Bansi Gaikwad, allegedly forged documents to show that she had adopted the girl from a friend in Gujarat three months ago. “The woman from Gujarat was divorced and wanted to remarry, but the girl was a hindrance. A few months ago, she decided to remarry a man from Gujarat and gave away the girl to Gaikwad who brought her to Bhiwandi three months ago,” said Ravindra Daundkar, a senior inspector of the anti-human trafficking cell.

Later, she told her acquaintances that she was ready to sell the girl for Rs30,000, but later hewed it down to Rs20,000, said Daundkar.

“We got a tip-off a week ago and arrested her on Friday,” he said. The police said that Gaikwad neglected the child’s care and did not even send her to school. “We will talk to the girl to know more about her condition. As of now, she is in observation home where she will be taken care of,” said Daundkar. Gaikwad has been remanded in police custody till July 6.